Chicago's Most Delish

We've found the the foods, restaurants, and bars that prove Chicago's cuisine is second (city) to none.

Jul 31, 2015

Mike Stillwell

We've found the foods, restaurants, and bars that show Chicago's cuisine is second (city) to none.

1 of 27

Courtesy of Hoosier Mama

Bakery: Hoosier Mama

Neighborhood: Locations in West Town and Evanston, IL

Why Most Delish?: People travel from all over the country to try this adorable bakery's sweet (classics like apple (pictured) or creative like a bourbon chess) and savory (BBQ pulled pork pie or broccoli cheddar quiche) pies. Billing itself as "that great piece of diner pie you've never had," the shop looks like your grandma's kitchen, but takes its pies very seriously. And we'd expect nothing less from a place that offers a Friday night pie flight made up of three small slices of your choice of pie. If that doesn't sound like bakery bliss, we don't know what to tell you. (website)

2 of 27

Chrissy N/Yelp.com

Barbecue: Smoque

Neighborhood: Irving Park

Why Most Delish?:When the citizens of Chi-town will brave the heat or cold to line up around the block to get into a place, the restaurant must be doing something right. Especially known for its baby back ribs, this neighborhood-y joint also makes some mean Texas-style brisket (pictured), pulled pork, chicken and classic sides like mac and cheese, beans and cornbread. It's the kind of barbecue joint every town in America deserves, but often doesn't get. (website)

3 of 27

Courtesy of Hopleaf

Beer Bar: Hopleaf

Neighborhood: Andersonville

Why Most Delish?: A carefully curated and always changing (as in several times PER WEEK) draft menu is the draw to this house of suds, but it's got an equally awesome Belgian-inspired menu of grub. Enjoying both in this slightly divy, but friendly space is one of the most enjoyable ways to pass a Chicago Sunday afternoon ... or Monday, Tuesday any night ever. (website)

4 of 27

Courtesy of The Publican

Brunch: The Publican

Neighborhood: West Loop

Why Most Delish?: There's something about brunch that makes us want to hunker down in a warm, inviting space and stay all day to gorge on dishes you've had a million times. The Publican, with it's warm, inviting European beer hall/farmhouse decor is the place to do just that, however, you won't be eating the same old omelets and waffles. The brunch fare here turns things up to 11 with dishes like red wine poached eggs, pimento cheese toast with smoked pork loin and sunny-side-up eggs, and waffles with cranberry jam and honey butter (pictured). (website)

5 of 27

Courtesy of Au Cheval

Burger: Au Cheval

Neighborhood: West Loop

Details: What makes this burger from this finer diner better than the rest? It's all in the details. They start with at least two four-ounce patties made of prime beef (you can get three patties, if you so desire) that are cooked on a griddle, then separated by a layer of Kraft American cheese. The local bakery-provided bun is toasted to contain any mess that might be caused by the burger's accoutrements of housemade pickles, and Dijonnaise (lemon juice, mayo and Dijon mustard). Then, Au Cheval really ups the ante by offering upgrades like a fried egg, thick-cut bacon or, if you are really adventurous, foie gras. I'm dying for one just typing about it. (website)

Why Most Delish?: An unusual category to be sure, but we couldn't resist bringing more attention to these monster cinnamon rolls that have been delighting Chicagoans for more than 60 years. The rolls served at this Swedish diner fill an entire plate and come dripping with melty, sugary goodness otherwise known as GLAZE. Warning, if you attempt to eat an entire Ann Sather cinnamon roll in one sitting, you will be useless for the rest of the day. But it's always worth it, always. (website)

7 of 27

Courtesy of The Violet Hour

Cocktail Bar: The Violet Hour

Neighborhood: Wicker Park

Details: Named in homage to a T.S. Elliot poem, you might find yourself wanting to write great literature after an artisanal cocktail in one of this bar's three leather-clad, candlelit salons. The award-winning cocktails rotate seasonally, but all are crafted with the utmost care and precision. Some recent concoctions include the Easy With Eyes Closed (Beefeater infused with strawberry and coriander, orange marmalade and lime bitters) and the Hardest Walk (Famous Grouse, lemon, Plantation dark rum, fresh ginger, Angostura di Amaro and hibiscus). (website)

8 of 27

Courtesy of Ipsento

Coffee: Ipsento

Neighborhood: Bucktown

Details: Some craft coffee shops can be intimidating with their nitro brews, aeropress and other such fancy coffee gadgets. But the staff at this friendly shop is more than willing to answer any and all questions about their expertly-made creations. Beans are roasted onsite, the espresso is on point and you should definitely try one of their specialty lattes like the signature Ipsento (coconut milk, soy milk, honey, and cayenne), cardamom-rose or Nutella lattes. (website)

9 of 27

Courtesy of Lou Malnati's

Deep-Dish Pizza: Lou Malnati's

Neighborhood: Locations all over Chicago and Chicagoland

Why Most Delish?: No piece of food as created so much debate as deep-dish pizza. Is it even pizza? Is it more like a pie? Well forgive us Jon Stewart, but when it's as delicious as Lou Malnati's, who gives a sh*t? There are many place that claim to serve Chicago's best deep dish—Pizzeria Uno/Due, Pequod's, Gino's East, Giordano's—and you probably can't go wrong with any of them—but what puts Lou Malnati's above the rest is its simplicity with a twist. It's got all the trademarks of a classic deep dish pizza—fresh and bright tomato sauce, copious amounts of gooey cheese—that are all heightened by a breadstick-inspired buttery crust (trademarked Buttercrust) that actually helps hold the rest of the pie together. (website)

10 of 27

Courtesy of Glazed & Infused

Donut: Glazed & Infused

Neighborhood: 6 locations all over the city

Why Most Delish?: As if that photo of G&I's maple bacon long john isn't explanation enough, this shop is needs to be a stop on any donut aficionado's list. Other varieties include classics (old-fashioned, chocolate and glazed) and out there (lemon toffee, fried ice cream, and praline white chocolate honey). Plus, the shops are fun and casual—the kind of places you can kick back with a coffee, book and spend an afternoon eating ALL the donuts. (website)

11 of 27

Courtesy of Jim's Original

Drunk Food: Jim's Original

Neighborhood: Locations in University Village and Chatham

Why Most Delish?: Billed as the longest continuously operating hot dog stand (despite some closures for moves) Jim's Original's Maxwell Street Polish Sausage sandwiches have surely cured all manner of drunken cravings. Open 24 hours, Jim's is always there to welcome night owls with its signature sandwich (a spicy smoked polish sausage, mustard, grilled onions and sport peppers in a hot bun) as well as a pork chop sandwich, burgers and more. And the part that might make it the ultimate drunk food? Fries are FREE with any sandwich. (website)

12 of 27

Courtesy of Little Goat/Photo by Galdones Photography

Diner: Little Goat

Neighborhood: West Loop

Why Most Delish?: While some might call foul on this choice as this isn't exactly a classic greasy spoon, we definitely don't care. We couldn't get former Top Chef competitor Stephanie Izard's food out of our heads. So whine if you want, but we'll be over here chowing down on truly inventive dishes like the Bull's Eye French Toast, made with sweet onion brioche and topped with eggs, crispy chicken, and BBQ maple syrup (pictured), or perhaps the Sloppy Goat, a addictive take on the Sloppy Joe. There's also a kick-ass bakery serving up cakes, cookies, scones, pies, bagels. Basically, this place has everything we never knew we needed from a diner. (website)

13 of 27

Courtesy of The Fat Shallot

Food Truck: The Fat Shallot

Neighborhood: N/A

Why Most Delish?: Food trucks aren't obsessively covered as much as they were a few years ago, but that doesn't mean they aren't still making killer food. The Fat Shallot tempts Chicago's hungry hoards with gourmet sandwiches that sound simple, but deliver big time with flavor. Try the Buffalo chicken, made with spicy fried chicken strips on an egg bun with blue cheese sauce and a celery salad, or a BLT that improves on the classic combo with avocado, truffle aioli and Texas toast. Word of advice, these sandwiches are mighty, but be sure to save room for the truffle or spicy sesame fries or you'll be seriously sorry. (website)

14 of 27

Courtesy of DMK Burger Bar

French Fries: Parmesan, Truffle Cream Fries at DMK Burger Bar

Neighborhood: Locations in Lakeview and Lombard, Ill.

Why Most Delish?: Parmesan. Truffle. Cream. Fries. Let that sink in for a moment, and then stop reading this and get thee to DMK Burger Bar as fast as you can to binge on a few (orders). The fries are made with hand-cut Russet potatoes and smothered in salty Parmesan cheese and a creamy truffle sauce that, according to co-owner Michael Kornick, make these truffle fries "the most luxurious way to enjoy a french fry." Luxurious or not, we want them all the time starting now. (website)

15 of 27

Courtesy of The Roost Carolina Kitchen

Fried Chicken: The Roost Carolina Kitchen

Neighborhood: Lakeview

Why Most Delish?: Born in a food truck, the chicken at Roost was good enough to graduate to its own restaurant a few years ago.The secret is the chicken's 24 hour journey in a buttermilk brine, which creates an incredibly unique, spicy and delicious crust and ridiculously flavorful meat.You can get your bird on a biscuit (pictured), bone in or out, but no matter how you take it, we guarantee one piece will not be enough.(website)

16 of 27

Gina S./Yelp.com

Greek: Greek Islands

Neighborhood: Greektown

Why Most Delish?: Though actual Greek residents have long since vacated the neighborhood, authentic cuisine is going strong in Greektown, especially at Greek Islands. What makes it the one to beat is its family atmosphere, which we all know (from watching My Big Fat Greek Wedding) is what Greek life is all about. Indulge in dishes like Flaming Saganaki Cheese, Mousaka, Spanakotiropita (spinach pie), Keftedes (meatballs), Kontosouvli (pork on the spit) and souvlaki, and you'll swear you're dining within view of the Adriatic. (website)

17 of 27

Courtesy of Superdawg

Hot Dog: Superdawg

Neighborhood: Locations in Norwood Park and Wheeling, IL

Why Most Delish?: The classic Chicago dog is traditionally an all-beef hot dog on a poppyseed bun topped with mustard, relish, chopped onion, tomato slices, a pickle spear, sport peppers, and celery salt. You can get them all over the city, and all will do the job. But at Superdawg, they give you that extra special something that seems to make all the difference. First of all, the old-school diner decor is just plain fun. Then there's the dog itself, which techincally meets all the classic criteria, but does so with some exciting twists. Instead of tomato slices, you get a pickled green tomato. Plus, the dog itself, while still all beef, lacks a snappy natural casing, but makes up for it with beefy flavor and a more generous size. Despite any nitpicks, this baby's high quality ingredients take it to the top of the dog pile. (website)

18 of 27

Courtesy of Black Dog Gelato

Ice Cream: Black Dog Gelato

Neighborhood: Locations in Ukrainian Village and Roscoe Village

Why Most Delish?: We know, we know: gelato and ice cream are not the same thing. We're betting you'll calm down after one taste of the silky, creamy delights on offer at Black Dog. With flavors made daily like Goat Cheese Cashew Caramel (pictured), Sesame Fig Chocolate Chip and Blueberry French Toast, you'll never tire of repeat visits. The only thing you may tire of is choosing a new favorite. (website)

19 of 27

Courtesy of Sapori Trattoria

Italian: Sapori Trattoria

Neighborhood: Lincoln Park

Why Most Delish?: Chicago's large influx of Italian-American folks means quality Italian restaurants are by no means scarce. But it's a tiny neighborhood joint that has our pick because despite the casual setting, this place is putting out seriously good food. Pastas like pesto gnocchi with chopped chicken breast, sun dried tomatoes, and Parmesan

cheese (pictured) are served along main dishes like Vitello Ossobuco (pan-seared veal shank braised in a savory red sauce atop a mini meat lasagna), making for a restaurant any neighborhood would be proud to call its own. (website)

Why Most Delish?: Another Chicago-specific category, the Italian Beef sandwich is an institution on par with the Chicago dog and deep dish. Made with thin slices of seasoned roast beef and au jus on an Italian-style roll and topped with hot Italian peppers and sweet giardiniera, Al's Beef version is everything a classic rendition of the sandwich should be. Mostly because the whole idea of the sandwich was their idea in the first place, and they haven't stopped making these ridiculously great sandwiches since 1938.(Website)

21 of 27

Courtesy of Mindy's Hot Chocolate

Macaroni & Cheese: Mindy's Hot Chocolate

Neighborhood: Wicker Park

Why Most Delish?: While most macaroni and cheese that doesn't come from a box (though that holds a special place in our heart's too) is usually delicious, what makes the mac at this pantheon of comfort food stand out is that it eats more like a soup than a pasta. The bowl is filled to the brim with melty, buttery cheese and topped with a charred layer of cheese that satisfyingly bubbles as it waits to be consumed. But take your time, this mac is worth lingering over. (website)

22 of 27

Courtesy of Topolobampo

Mexican: Topolobampo

iNeighborhood: River North

Why Most Delish?:We've got your more down-to-earth Mexican covered elsewhere on this list (re: Most Delish Taco), so this is where we tout something a little more authentic than Tex-Mex favorites like burritos and enchiladas. The most creative of Chef Rick Bayless' Mexican restaurant empire, Topolobampo is where you can experience dishes like carne asada in mole negro, served with roasted spring onions, black beans and roasted mushrooms (pictured) or cochinita pibil, slow-cooked suckling pig cooked with achiote and banana leaves, parsley, heirloom beans, sour orange-pickled cabbage ribs and red onions. It's not the Mexican you're used to; it's better.(website)

23 of 27

Courtesy of Piece Brewery and Pizzeria

Non-Deep Dish Pizza: Piece Brewery and Pizzeria

Neighborhood: Wicker Park

Why Most Delish?: No one can expect Chicagoans to eat deep dish all the time. Enter Piece, which serves up impeccable New Haven-style pies that can be topped with anything from mashed potatoes to clams. But the real draw is the plain pie, made simply with garlic, Parmesan, tomato sauce and oil on a perfectly chewy-crispy crust. (website)

24 of 27

Courtesy of Alinea

Splurge: Alinea

Neighborhood: Lincoln Park

Why Most Delish?: We're all about quick and easy eats at Delish, but sometimes you want to go all out. And if that mood strikes you in Chicago, there is one place to go: Chef Grant Achatz's temple of modernist cooking: Alinea. Consistently been considered one of the best restaurants in the WORLD, the constantly changing prix fixe menu here will set you back a very pretty penny (12 to 14 courses for $210 to $265 per person), but we promise it will be a meal you'll never forget. (website)

25 of 27

Courtesy of Bavette Bar & Boeuf

Steak: Bavette's Bar & Boeuf

Neighborhood: River North

Why Most Delish?: Steakhouses have a reputation for fancy—all waiters in tuxes, white linen napkins and expensive wines, but the great thing about the speakeasy-esque Bavette's is there is no pretension, just really good beef. The signature 22-ounce bone-in dry aged ribeye is aged for 30 days wet and then 28 days dry to deliver tender flavor that definitely doesn't need dipping sauce, but no one will judge you regardless. (website)

26 of 27

Courtesy of Antique Taco

Taco: Antique Taco

Neighborhood: Wicker Park

Why Most Delish?: With a menu that changes seasonally, but tacos that will stand the test of time, it's easy to see why Antique Taco's vintage cool vibe is working for them. Don't miss bites like crispy fish tacos with smoked cabbage, scallions and Sriracha tartar sauce, cumin lamb tacos with jalapeno, peppercorn yogurt, pickled cabbage and pea tendrils, and pork carnitas tacos with an adobo rub tamarin glaze, bacon, spinach, onion, avocado and queso. (website)

27 of 27

Courtesy of Webster's Wine Bar

Wine Bar: Webster's Wine Bar

Neighborhood: Logan Square

Why Most Delish?: This European-style wine bar might look stuffy, but it's actually filled with friendly wine enthusiasts who are eager to point you toward your next favorite bottle. The best part is you get to enjoy it sitting at a warm, wooden bar while noshing on some excellent snacks like bay scallop ceviche, Spanish-style meatballs and chicken liver mousse. (website)

A Part of Hearst Digital Media
Delish participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.